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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






2. A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.






3. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






4. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






5. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






6. A symbol indicating to play loud.






7. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






8. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






9. Suite of Baroque dances.






10. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






11. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






12. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






13. Pertaining to the fugue - the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart.






14. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






15. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






16. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






17. The movement of chords in succession.






18. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






19. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






20. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






21. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






22. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






23. The major and minor keys that share the same notes in that key.For example: A minor shares the same note as C major.






24. Quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes.






25. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






26. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






27. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






28. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






29. The structure of a piece of music.






30. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






31. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






32. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






33. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






34. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






35. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






36. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






37. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






38. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






39. A group singing in unison.






40. Lowest female singing voice.






41. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






42. Lowest female singing voice.






43. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






44. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






45. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






46. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






47. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






48. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






49. A repeated phrase.






50. Music written to be sung or played in unison.